Solar photovoltaic installers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $53,140 | $25.55 |
| Mean (average) | $57,900 | $27.84 |
| 90th percentile | $79,970 | $38.45 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Solar photovoltaic installers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 33 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $51,160 | $38,770 | $78,780 | 1,280 | 1.96 |
| Arkansas | $44,820 | $44,800 | $62,870 | ||
| California | $60,600 | $47,070 | $83,770 | 6,830 | 1.86 |
| Colorado | $49,730 | $45,930 | $76,170 | 620 | 1.07 |
| Connecticut | $55,590 | $45,240 | $70,820 | ||
| Florida | $50,550 | $44,450 | $76,550 | 2,980 | 1.49 |
| Georgia | $47,790 | $45,080 | $57,900 | ||
| Hawaii | $70,370 | $47,480 | $105,200 | 420 | 3.29 |
| Illinois | $59,630 | $35,360 | $103,460 | ||
| Indiana | $46,140 | $38,250 | $71,020 | 490 | 0.76 |
| Iowa | $56,740 | $41,430 | $72,450 | 180 | 0.58 |
| Kansas | $49,990 | $41,920 | $61,630 | ||
| Maine | $61,210 | $51,970 | $86,730 | 60 | 0.49 |
| Maryland | $45,430 | $44,190 | $61,410 | 670 | 1.2 |
| Massachusetts | $59,180 | $46,150 | $76,280 | 620 | 0.85 |
| Michigan | $47,080 | $38,340 | $60,270 | 310 | 0.35 |
| Nevada | $67,810 | $51,170 | $89,200 | 100 | 0.33 |
| New Jersey | $78,950 | $47,600 | $102,050 | 1,880 | 2.17 |
| New Mexico | $48,490 | $40,020 | $75,370 | 340 | 1.93 |
| New York | $56,160 | $46,630 | $74,770 | 1,230 | 0.63 |
| North Carolina | $43,860 | $37,440 | $60,170 | 710 | 0.71 |
| Ohio | $62,400 | $48,270 | $70,150 | 70 | 0.06 |
| Oregon | $66,320 | $54,110 | $87,370 | 360 | 0.91 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,760 | $40,940 | $61,250 | 1,210 | 0.99 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,860 | $23,210 | $31,560 | 1,890 | 10 |
| South Carolina | $50,490 | $40,540 | $78,170 | ||
| South Dakota | $42,380 | $37,560 | $73,590 | 50 | 0.51 |
| Texas | $48,240 | $37,660 | $73,690 | 5,270 | 1.86 |
| Utah | $49,980 | $44,550 | $76,740 | 770 | 2.19 |
| Vermont | $49,490 | $44,600 | $72,030 | 250 | 4.02 |
| Virginia | $49,190 | $47,100 | $59,110 | ||
| Washington | $61,630 | $50,440 | $61,640 | ||
| Wisconsin | $49,770 | $44,910 | $85,650 | 90 | 0.15 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for solar photovoltaic installers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 4,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for solar photovoltaic installers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Solar Energy Technology/Technician CIP 15.1703
- Roofer CIP 46.0410
- Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician CIP 47.0703
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions.
- Check electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations.
- Identify electrical, environmental, and safety hazards associated with photovoltaic (PV) installations.
- Identify installation locations with proper orientation, area, solar access, or structural integrity for photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
- Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified.
- Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms.
- Install module array interconnect wiring, implementing measures to disable arrays during installation.
- Install required labels on solar system components and hardware.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Salesforce software (hot technology)
- Cost estimating software
- Work scheduling software
Transferable skills for career changers: Installation, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Journeyman Electrician PV Installer (Journeyman Electrician Photovoltaic Installer), PV Installation Tech (Photovoltaic Installation Technician), PV Installer (Photovoltaic Installer), Solar Designer, Solar Electric Installer, Solar Installer, Solar Panel Installation Technician (Solar Panel Installation Tech), Solar PV Installer (Solar Photovoltaic Installer), Solar PV Integrator (Solar Photovoltaic Integrator), Solar Technician (Solar Tech).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do solar photovoltaic installers make?
The national median annual wage for solar photovoltaic installers was $53,140 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $41,600 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $79,970. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do solar photovoltaic installers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is solar photovoltaic installers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of solar photovoltaic installers to change +36.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 4,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay solar photovoltaic installers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Jersey ($78,950), Hawaii ($70,370), Nevada ($67,810). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.